Ag. Item # 12 – Discussion of Motion 2010-07 – Amending the CYCC Rules

[Bob Armstrong]

In this thread, we will debate this motion. But we will not vote on it here in this thread. The voting is not to start ‘til 6:00 PM EDT on Sunday, April 11 – I will at that time post a new thread on this as a poll, so we can all vote – it will record the names of the governors voting.

Here is the motion/commentary:

Motion 2010-07: (Moved/Seconded Michael Barron / John Coleman) To amend the CYCC rules to include the following:

"Canadian Youth Chess Championship is a qualifier to international youth chess competitions.
Top 3 finishers in each section are qualified for: 1) World Youth Chess Championship; 2) Pan American Youth Chess Championship; 3) North America Youth Chess Championship.

Michael Barron:

Every qualified player can be official Canadian representative at one of these events, others could be additional players. Usually the Champion represents Canada at WYCC, 2nd place finisher - at Pan American, and 3rd place finisher - at NAYCC.
But the Champion could choose any one of these tournaments, and 2nd place finisher - one of remaining 2."
The intent of this motion is to emphasize the importance of CYCC as a qualifier for all
International Youth competitions: WYCC, Pan American YCC and North American YCC, and allow top 3 CYCC finishers to represent Canada at one of these events.

[Egidijus Zeromskis]

Mover/seconder could add where the amendment will be incorporated in the Handbook (otherwise it might be lost
The Barron's rationale could be included in the motion: "the Champion could choose any one of these tournaments, the 2nd place finisher - one of remaining 2, the third place finisher - the remaining " or "The Champion has the first choice; the 2nd place finisher - the second choice."

Maybe time terms to make a decision should be mentioned too?

[Ken Craft]

How does this change and improve on current practice?

[Egidijus Zeromskis]

How does this change and improve on current practice?

I think it will make more formal selection where and who goes as the official representative.

Who would go if those three players refuse to go into one of the mentioned tournaments? (no official representative, somebody with the highest rating, etc.)

[Christopher Mallon]

What exactly was the issue that prompted the need for this motion?

[Michael Barron]

What exactly was the issue that prompted the need for this motion?

The issue that prompted the need for this motion id following:

Many parents are asking:
1) How my child could qualify for Pan-American or North American Youth Championships?
2) Why my child need to play at Canadian Youth Championships, if everybody is allowed to represent Canada at International competitions anyways?

To address such questions and emphasize importance of the CYCC as the only way to qualify to International chess competitions, the CFC Youth Committee submitted this Motion.

[Fred McKim]

I had to search elsewhere, but I think the following are facts.

The CFC pays transportation for the CYCC winner to go to the WYCC. If they choose not to go, I'm not sure if they presently can use that elsewhere, or if someone else is entitled to use it.

Canada is allowed free accomodation for an OFFICIAL rep at the CYCC, Pan-Ams and NAYCC (which apparently may be held too close to the CYCC to use the same year's event as a qualifier).

I would favour the winner of the CYCC receiving official invitation and airfare to their choice of the Pan ams or World Youth and the runner-up getting the invitation to the alternate event.

The official rep to the NAYCC would be the highest placing finisher from that age group in the CYCC from the previous year. This means it would be only those players not graduating to a new age group would be eligible, but the rlues would be fair and the players would have a year to raise their transportation, etc.

Appropriate acceptance dates would have tot be built in to the system.

[John Coleman]

A complicating factor is that the Pan-Ams take place before or immediately after the CYCC about half the time. Does this year's winner go, or last year's? A further complication is that the CYCC has 2-year age divisions.

[Patrick McDonald]

All of these events (WYCC, PanAm YCC, NAYCC) have 2 year age categories.
At this point, the CYCC can only raise enough funds to provide airfare to ONE event for ONE qualifier from the CYCC.
HOWEVER, EACH event provides accommodations/meals to ONE representative from each country for each age/gender category.

the Barron motion is also misleading in that there is no such thing as "Usually the Champion represents Canada at WYCC, 2nd place finisher - at Pan American, and 3rd place finisher - at NAYCC".
USUALLY what happens is that anyone who at least ties for 1st, 2nd or 3rd qualifies to go to the World YCC and the top finisher of those that decides to go has his/her airfare provided by the CFC.
As for the PanAm and the NAYCC, anyone has been allowed to go. The highest rated player in any age/gender category has been the one that has received the accommodations and meals for the event.
ALSO: It has been VERY rare that more than one player from any given age/gender category has ever attended either the Pan Am or the North American.

I am not sure why we need to change this status quo?? So far it has worked out well.

We need to ENCOURAGE our youth players to go to these events, not limit them. I would like to see more of our youth attending the Pan Am and the North American tournaments. To date, we have been represented by 0 - 6 players across all 12 sections at any of these events. (often it has been 0 players at these events).

[Christopher Mallon]

If there is no need for a limit, then I see no reason to put a limit on.

Or make it a very simple limit which still encourages participation in the CYCC: You must participate in the CYCC if you want to play in one of those three events.